Here's How Middle-Class Income Growth Compares To Cost-of-Living Increase in Every State
Middle-class income can’t keep up with the rising cost of living in America. A new MoneyLion study indicates only two states experienced middle-class income increases of 10% or greater when compared to the cost of living between 2019 and 2024. Fourteen states -- including California, Hawaii and New York -- are in the red for income decreases of 10% or more.
MoneyLion calculated each state’s total cost of living for 2019 and 2024 (the most recent years available). Each year had its dollar and percentage differences calculated for the median household income and average cost of living. MoneyLion compared the five-year change in income with the five-year change in cost of living to show whether income growth outpaced or lagged behind living costs.
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Key Findings
Louisiana and Mississippi saw the highest increases in middle-class income. The two Southern states experienced a five-year net gain in income vs. cost of living of 10.8% and 10.3%.
Middle-class income declined the most against inflation in two East Coast states. The greatest income decreases over five years were in New Jersey (-22.8%) and Massachusetts (-23.2%).
Over five years, middle-class income decreased vs. inflation by 10% or more in 14 states: Washington (-11.1%), Utah (-11.5%), Maryland (-11.9%), California (-12%), Montana (-13%), Wyoming (-17%), Virginia (-17.1%), Connecticut (-17.6%), Hawaii (-17.8%), Rhode Island (-17.9%), New York (-18%), New Hampshire (-19.1%), New Jersey (-22.8%) and Massachusetts (-23.2%).
Keep reading to learn more about how middle-class income has grown vs. cost of living in every state.
1. Louisiana
Median household income 2024: $60,986
Median household income 2019: $49,469
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $36,605
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $32,535
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 10.8%
2. Mississippi
Median household income 2024: $59,127
Median household income 2019: $45,081
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $34,755
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $28,752
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 10.3%
3. Alabama
Median household income 2024: $66,659
Median household income 2019: $50,536
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $38,040
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $30,372
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 6.7%
4. South Carolina
Median household income 2024: $72,350
Median household income 2019: $53,199
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $43,657
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $33,096
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 4.1%
5. West Virginia
Median household income 2024: $60,798
Median household income 2019: $46,711
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $34,243
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $27,142
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 4%
6. Nevada
Median household income 2024: $81,134
Median household income 2019: $60,365
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $55,070
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $42,012
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 3.3%
7. Alaska
Median household income 2024: $95,665
Median household income 2019: $77,640
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $59,111
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $49,142
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 2.9%
8. Oregon
Median household income 2024: $85,220
Median household income 2019: $62,818
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $60,862
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $45,846
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 2.9%
9. Florida
Median household income 2024: $77,735
Median household income 2019: $55,660
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $50,338
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $36,761
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 2.7%
10. Arkansas
Median household income 2024: $62,106
Median household income 2019: $47,597
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $36,593
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $28,408
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.7%
11. Iowa
Median household income 2024: $75,501
Median household income 2019: $60,523
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $38,697
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $31,430
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.6%
12. North Dakota
Median household income 2024: $77,871
Median household income 2019: $64,894
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $42,892
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $36,205
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.5%
13. Tennessee
Median household income 2024: $71,997
Median household income 2019: $53,320
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $43,980
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $32,936
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.5%
14. Vermont
Median household income 2024: $82,730
Median household income 2019: $61,973
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $52,455
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $39,733
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.5%
15. South Dakota
Median household income 2024: $76,881
Median household income 2019: $58,275
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $44,483
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $34,025
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 1.2%
16. New Mexico
Median household income 2024: $67,816
Median household income 2019: $49,754
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $44,386
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $32,759
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 0.8%
17. Missouri
Median household income 2024: $71,589
Median household income 2019: $55,461
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $40,312
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $31,370
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 0.6%
18. North Carolina
Median household income 2024: $73,958
Median household income 2019: $54,602
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $46,420
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $34,277
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: 0.02%
19. Arizona
Median household income 2024: $81,486
Median household income 2019: $58,945
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $53,071
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $38,383
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -0.02%
20. Pennsylvania
Median household income 2024: $77,545
Median household income 2019: $61,744
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $43,200
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $34,284
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -0.4%
21. Kentucky
Median household income 2024: $64,526
Median household income 2019: $50,589
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $38,077
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $29,737
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -0.5%
22. Texas
Median household income 2024: $79,721
Median household income 2019: $61,874
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $43,361
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $33,418
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -0.9%
23. Georgia
Median household income 2024: $79,991
Median household income 2019: $58,700
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $45,857
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $33,333
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -1.3%
24. Kansas
Median household income 2024: $75,514
Median household income 2019: $59,597
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $39,023
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $30,482
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -1.3%
25. Ohio
Median household income 2024: $72,212
Median household income 2019: $56,602
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $39,944
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $30,806
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -2.1%
26. Oklahoma
Median household income 2024: $66,148
Median household income 2019: $52,919
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $37,371
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $29,176
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.1%
27. Colorado
Median household income 2024: $97,113
Median household income 2019: $72,331
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $61,324
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $44,624
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.2%
28. Minnesota
Median household income 2024: $87,117
Median household income 2019: $71,306
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $47,613
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $37,980
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.2%
29. Illinois
Median household income 2024: $83,211
Median household income 2019: $65,886
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $43,840
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $33,769
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.5%
30. Michigan
Median household income 2024: $72,389
Median household income 2019: $57,144
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $40,579
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $31,122
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.7%
31. Delaware
Median household income 2024: $87,534
Median household income 2019: $68,287
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $51,394
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $38,923
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -3.9%
32. Indiana
Median household income 2024: $71,959
Median household income 2019: $56,303
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $40,588
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $30,591
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -4.9%
33. Idaho
Median household income 2024: $81,166
Median household income 2019: $55,785
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $55,596
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $36,730
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -5.9%
34. Wisconsin
Median household income 2024: $77,488
Median household income 2019: $61,747
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $46,021
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $35,008
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -6%
35. Nebraska
Median household income 2024: $76,376
Median household income 2019: $61,439
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $41,555
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $31,829
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -6.3%
36. Maine
Median household income 2024: $76,442
Median household income 2019: $57,918
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $53,485
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $38,168
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -8.2%
37. Washington
Median household income 2024: $99,389
Median household income 2019: $73,775
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $68,413
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $46,916
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -11.1%
38. Utah
Median household income 2024: $96,658
Median household income 2019: $71,621
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $59,875
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $40,880
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -11.5%
39. Maryland
Median household income 2024: $102,905
Median household income 2019: $84,805
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $55,507
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $41,648
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -11.9%
40. California
Median household income 2024: $100,149
Median household income 2019: $75,235
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $83,327
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $57,429
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -12%
41. Montana
Median household income 2024: $75,340
Median household income 2019: $54,970
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $55,211
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $36,791
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -13%
42. Wyoming
Median household income 2024: $75,532
Median household income 2019: $64,049
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $47,448
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $35,170
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -17%
43. Virginia
Median household income 2024: $92,090
Median household income 2019: $74,222
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $52,309
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $37,053
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -17.1%
44. Connecticut
Median household income 2024: $96,049
Median household income 2019: $78,444
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $58,212
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $41,558
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -17.6%
45. Hawaii
Median household income 2024: $100,745
Median household income 2019: $81,275
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $100,914
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $71,200
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -17.8%
46. Rhode Island
Median household income 2024: $83,504
Median household income 2019: $67,167
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $60,322
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $42,429
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -17.9%
47. New York
Median household income 2024: $85,820
Median household income 2019: $68,486
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $58,287
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $40,673
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -18%
48. New Hampshire
Median household income 2024: $99,782
Median household income 2019: $76,768
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $61,191
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $41,061
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -19.1%
49. New Jersey
Median household income 2024: $104,294
Median household income 2019: $82,545
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $65,009
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $43,583
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -22.8%
50. Massachusetts
Median household income 2024: $104,828
Median household income 2019: $81,215
Necessities cost of living annually 2024: $75,571
Necessities cost of living annually 2019: $49,633
5-year % change in income compared to 5-year % change in cost of living: -23.2%
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Methodology: Median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center, national average expenditure costs were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, average house value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, mortgage, and the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data. Using the average expenditure and mortgage costs, the total cost of living was calculated for each state for both years. The dollar differences and percentage differences were calculated for both years for the median household income and the average cost of living. The states were sorted to show the largest increase in median household income over the increase in cost of living. All data is up to date as of June 3, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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